Washington Workforce Development News
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
November 19, 2019
WORKFORCE BOARD TO DISCUSS STATE WORKFORCE PLAN PRIORITIES TOMORROW IN AUBURN
The Workforce Board meets at the Junior Achievement Pemco Achievement Zone in Auburn Wednesday (Nov. 20) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be asked for input on priorities, goals, and guidance in updating the state’s strategic workforce plan, “Talent and Prosperity for All” or TAP. The Board will also provide input on how to best engage stakeholders and the public in updating the portion of the state’s plan that addresses Career and Technical Education, known as Perkins. More meeting details: https://bit.ly/2rZjixf
NEW STUDENT COMPLAINT PORTAL OPENS
A new online portal has opened for students attending private career schools and other regulated institutions to file consumer protection complaints. The portal launched earlier this month and is the result of legislation passed in 2019 requiring several regulatory agencies to collaborate on a public-facing portal. The Workforce Board, Washington Student Achievement Council, and state Department of Licensing are the site’s primary partners, along with the state’s Nursing Commission. Student complaints will be routed to the appropriate agency. Students will continue to be able to file complaints directly with each agency. View the portal: https://www.studentcomplaints.wa.gov/hc/en-us
WASHINGTON EMPLOYERS HONORED FOR HIRING VETERANS
The state’s Employment Security Department recognized 12 Washington businesses and public agencies earlier this month for their efforts to hire military veterans in 2019. Employment Security created the Hire-A-Vet award to call attention to unemployed veterans in Washington and to recognize companies with a good track record of hiring, retaining, and celebrating veterans in their workforce. One winner was selected from each of the state’s 12 workforce development areas. Find out who received an award at: https://bit.ly/35hQnmg
STATE GRANTS AVAILABLE TO ADD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITIES
The state’s Department of Commerce is accepting applications from community hospitals, healthcare providers and others for grants to expand or build new behavioral health facilities in the Spokane region. The legislature set aside $2 million for one or more facilities to provide an additional 16 crisis or stabilization beds as part of a federal court settlement. The grant is referred to as the Trueblood Competitive Grant. These new beds will address both urban and rural needs. The Workforce Board staffs the state’s Health Workforce Council and actively tracks capacity issues and education and training needs for our state’s health workforce. Workforce Board staff are also evaluating behavioral health workforce needs as part of a focused assessment on this evolving healthcare field. It includes both mental health and substance-use disorders that impact health. More details about Commerce’s grants at: https://bit.ly/2KAYBOp More information about the Health Workforce Council at: https://bit.ly/2QEU55g
PAVE THE WAY CONFERENCE SET FOR DECEMBER 11
The annual Pave the Way conference, which focuses on strategies to enhance equity, increase college readiness, and broaden access to higher education in Washington, is coming soon. The conference is being held on the University of Washington-Seattle campus. There’s still time to register. https://bit.ly/2qr4Eyc
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